Tube bending machine



July 26, 1932.

H. E. SCHNEIDER TUBE BENDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 4. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 26, 1932. H. E. SCHNEIDER 1,868,852:

TUBE BENDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 4, 195o 2 sheets-sheet 2 20 Z254 50 l 2f i V E s .l Il

Patented July 26,'u 1932 narran sre'res HENRY E. SCHNEIDER, or RRIR, rRNNsYLvANImAssIGNoR TonAYs MANnrnc'ruza-rk PATENT ori-"ici:

ING COMPANY, A. CORPORATION OFk PENNSYLVANIA TUBE' BENDING MAoHI'NR Application filed August 4, 1930. Serial No. 472,826.

This invention relates toa pipe and tube bending machine of the portable type, but constructed to permit the same to be clamped in position and used as a stationary type of bending machine. The improved machine is of simplied construction yadapted for bending copper, brass, iron or steel pipe or tubing and arranged for the removable reception of pipe handles for quick bending Von a job and furthermore arranged for the removable reception of a reduction lever device for making pipe bends in close quarters by means of a clip-carrying forming block or sheave having pivotally mounted there- 5 on, by means of a removable king-pin, ka

forming slide, whereby a pipe or tube engaged between the forming block and the forming slide and clamped by means ofthev It is also an object of this invention to provide an improved pipe or tube bending machine adapted for use either as a portable or .n stationary device and arranged to be placed in position on a pipe or tube at any point'in the length thereof to make a bend in the pipe without causing dents or kinks and without disturbing the iiXed end of a tube or pipe.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved type ot pipe and tube bending machine wherein a ratchet forming block has associated therewith lever-operated pipe bending mechanisms yfor making smooth finished, rounded bends without dents or kinks, even in dark or poorly lighted places, by simply counting thenumber of notches with which the pawl is brought into coacting relation by an improved arrangement whereby the movement through the forming. slide.

ratchet notches is arranged to produce abend-ifi" of ya prr-idetermined number of degrees; It is lfurthermore an object of this invention to provide an improved typeof pipe and' tube bending machine `wherein 'an improved ,fl

ratchet-carrying -forming block is equipped with spring-controlled pipe-holding kclips constructed to prevent opening of the clips underpressure of bending of a' vtube when acted on by for coaction with the ratchet forming block,

'whilethe yother is supported by means of a removable king-pintor sliding coaction with a `pipe' or tube to smoothly `bend-the same without compressing or stretching of the pipe or tubeV and acting as a means whereby any Wrinkles/may be ironed out before a bending operation takes place.

Still another object of the Ainvention, is to lever-operated, ivotally` mounted blocks, one of which carries a pawl y provide an improved vtype of portable rand stationary tube bending machine wherein a clip-carryingy forming block has removably engaged thereon, by means of a king-pin, a forming slide for coaction with a pavvl-car-k rying block, said forming slide arranged so that all `.bending pressures are exerted on the n yking-pin from opposite directions to equalize yall the strains on the forming block and the f It is alsor an ob]ect of thisinvention to provide an improved, simplified type of pipe vand tube bendinor machine whereina forming Vsheave 1s provided with a removable forming slide, the length of whichis in direct proportion to the radius of the forming sheave,

whereby the forming slide is adapted to act on a tube before bending; the same to iron out any wrinkles that might be in the tube and then bending the tubewithout distorting the cross-section of the tube and without stretching the same. i

It is an important yobiect of this invention to provide an improved, simplified and linexpensive typel ofk pipe and tube bending machine constructedtofbe .used either as a portable or stationary machine, and adapted `to smoothly bend pipes 'or tubes from a straight position to'substantially any degree l angle up to 180, said degree of bending being determinable b y the relative movement of :L control pawl with respect to ratchet teeth provided on the side of the forming block of the machine and spaced at predetermined degrees to facilitate the determination of the degree of bending of the pipe or tube in the machine.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the specification and the accompanying drawings.

The invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

On the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of an improved tube bending machine embodying the principles of this invention, showing a portion of a tube in position ready to be bent and illustrating the operation of the forming slide and reduction levers in dotted lines, in addition to illustrating in dotted lines the positioning of removable handles for operation of the machine when the reduction levers are omitted.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed section of the pawl and ratchet mechanism taken on line II-I of Figure l.

Figure 3 is an enlarged end elevation of the bending machine when the same is inverted and mounted in clamped position in a support to aord a stationary type of bending machine, illustrating the open position of the holding clips in dotted lines and showing the clamping position of the clips in full lines.

Figure Il is a sectional View of the device taken on line IV-IV of Figure l with parts shown in elevation and also illustrating a removable stop member clamped on the rim of the forming sheave.

`Figure is a fragmentary view taken on line V-V of Figure 1 with the tube omitted.

As shown on the drawings The improved machine is a portable hand type bender constructed to permit the same to be also used as a stationary bender and adapted for smoothly bending, without denting, crushing. stretching or distorting of hollow passaged articles, such as copper', brass, iron or steel pipe or tubing, or solid articles, such as rods, bars and thelike.

The machine comprises a forming block in the form of a wheel. pulley or sheave embracing a hub l, an integral disc or spoke section 2 and a rim or felloe 3 constructed with a peripheral pipe or tube-receiving` groove 4. The forming block has a segment thereof cut away to provide a recess or pocket bounded by walls or surfaces and 6 which are disposed at substantially right angles to one teeth 7 separated by ratchet notches 8. The arcuate ratchet extends for substantially 1800 around one side of the forming block rim 3, as clearly illustrated in Figure l, and has the ends thereof terminating a short distance from the end walls 5 and G, leaving plain arcuate sid-e surfaces in the rim between the ends of the ratchet and the ends of the fclloe or rim of the forming block. llhile the ratchet is described as extending for substantially 180o around one side of the forming block, it will, of course, be understood that the ratchet may, if desired, be made of any desired length, depending upon requirements.

For the purpose of rigidly clamping or holding one end of a pipe or tube properly seated within the groove et of the forming block, a pair of clip arms 9 are pivotally mounted at their inner ends upon a supporting bolt l0, the threaded end of which is secured in a threaded opening provided in the wall or surface 5 of the notched out portion of the forming block. The screw bolt 10 is positioned substantially parallel to the surface 6.V Engaged around the shank of the screw bolt lO is a coiled control spring 1l. The control spring ll is positioned between the head of the bolt l0 and the outermost clip arm 9, as clearly illustrated in Figure l. The spring 1l serves to resiliently hold the ends of the clip arms about the pipe or tube in resilient frictional contact with each other. Each of the clip arms 9 has the outer end thereof curv d to afford a holding head l2 with a rounded inner surface or pocket at 13, so that, when the pair of clip arms are engaged around a tube or pipe la, the heads of said arms have bearing contact with the outer peripheral surface of the pipe or tube more than half way around, as clearly illustrated in Figure This contacting of the heads of the clip arms more than half way around the pipe or tube which is to be bent serves to prevent crushing or sectional distortion of the article which is being bent. The clip heads or hooks l2 each have integrally formed on the outer end thereof a finger or wing l5 which projects beyond the hook or head l2 and is slightly bent out of the plane of the head or hool; l2, as clearly illustrated in Figure 5. The inner side of each of the fingers or wings l5 where it integrally joins the head or hook l2 is provided with an angled notch or recess lo which forms a stop tooth over which the linger or wing of the adjacent clip arm adapted to snap due to the action of the control spring 1l to prevent opening of the clips Linder pressure of bending when the machine is in operation. Then the clip arms are swung inwardly toward eachother to engage over a pipe or tube, the inclined lingers or wings l5 frictionally pass each other, and.l as soon as the toothed or notched portions 16 thereof are passed,

the action of the control spring 11 serves to' snap the heads or hookportions of the clip arms together around the pipe or tube, thereby locking the clips against outward`.swing ing movement away from each otherso that there is no danger of the pipe or tube being released during a bending operation.-y After a bending operation, the clip'members may be readily released by merely pressing with Vthe thumb and-forefinger in opposite direcof the forming block isa cylindricalibushing or bearing sleeve 17 the endsof which project beyond the sides of the hub 1. vPi'votally engaged on the projecting ends of the bushing or bearing sleeve 17 are the apertured inner ends of the arms 18 of a pawl block of forked or U-shape construction embracing the arms 18 and a head 19 integrally connecting the same; Integrally formed on one side of the pawl block head 19 area pair of spaced flanges or ribs 20 affordingfa space therebetween for receiving a control pawl `21 which is pivotally mounted on a supporting pin 22 engaged through the flangesV or ribs 20. One end of the control pawl 2l is positioned for coaction with the teeth and notches 7 and 8 of the ratchet formed on one side of the forming block. For the purpose of insuring proper engagement of the pawl 21 with the ratchet, a control spring 23 is seated in suitable recesses provided inone 'of the pawl block arms 18 and the Vouter end of the pawl 21, as clearly illustrated in Figure 2.

Threaded into an opening inV one side of the pawl block head 19 adjacent the outervmost pawl-supporting flange or rib '20 is the inner threaded end of a screw pin -or stud 24 positioned to afford a support for the engagement of one of a pairof ypivotally connected reduction levers 25. The reduction levers 25 are adapted for opera-tion of the machine and have two ends thereof pivotally connected together by a pivot pin 26. Each of thereduction levers 25 is provided with an opening at 27 for selective engagement with the levers to be engaged on the` fulcrum pin 24. The outer end of the pawl block head 19 is provided with an internally threaded recess or'pocket 28 (Fig. 3) for the removable reception of the threaded end of a pipe like handle`29 when the machine is to be operated by means of handles instead of by means of the reduction levers'25. The positioning of the operating handle 29 is illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 1 of the drawings.

Mounted for coaction withthe pipe or tube 14 for bending of thesame is a forming slide comprising a block or armV 30 which is formed with alongitudinalrounded groove 31 to seat on the pipe or tube 14 when the slide 30 is positioned ready for bending as illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings. Integrally formed .i

or rigidly secured to one end of the yforming slide block or arm 30 is a pair `of legs or'supf porting arms 32 and 33 parallel toieach other and havingapertures near the outer `ends 'thereof for/the removable-receptionof the straight-shank of a kking-pin 34.`j One end ofthe king-pin 34 is chamfered: or pointed to `facilitate mounting of the forming slidey on the forming-'block 'The apertured arms 'or legs 32 and 33, comprising a part of the forming slide 30, are positioned 'on opposite sideslof they arms 18 of the pawl block, with the openings in the arms or legs 32 and 33 registering with the'ends of the bearing sleeve or bushing 17, as clearly illustrated in Figure 4. The king-pin 34 is provided with an enlarged head 35 and has a handle or' actuating j pin 36 projecting diametrically therethrough for insertion and removal purposes.

The king-pin 34, when inserted in position, projects through the aperture in the leg 32 and throughthe bearing sleeve 17 and has the tapered j or pointed end j thereof projecting through the openingl in the `forming slide leg 33 and is seated in a clearance hole of a boss 37 formed on the outer side of the supporting leg or arm 33, Vas clearly illustrated in Figure 4, to afford an arrangement whereby the king-pin is prevented from being knocked out of engagement with the back arm or leg 33 of the formslide.

The form slide armor block 30 is provided with an internally threaded opening in one side thereof for the reception of a screwpin or stud 38 which projects outwardly at substantially right angles to the block 3() in a convenient position whereby the'aperture 27 in one of the reduction klevers 25 may -bel engaged thereon when the other reduction lever has the aperture thereof yengaged over' the pin or stud 24,'as yillustrated in Figure 1. ,The pivotally connected reduction levers 25 are provided tofacilitateoperation of the bending machine in close quarters. VVheniit is necessary to perform aquick bending operationy on the job, the reduction levers may bel omitted and long handles 29 and 39 used instead. As illustrated in Figure 1, the long handle y39 at one end thereof is threadedv or otherwise formedv to facilitate engagement fof the handle in a threaded opening provided in the end of the block or arm 30 kof the'forming slide.

For -the purpose of permitting the machine to be used as a stationarymachine instead of one of the portable type,fthe forming slide block or arm 30 is provided with an integral rib or web 40 kwhich may be inserted in a vice or gripping support 41,. as illus-- trated in Figure 3, to rigidly clamp the forming slide in a stationary position.

Referring now to thc forming block and the ratchet formed on one side thereof, any degree of angle bend may be produced in a pipe or tube from Zero to substantially a complete U bend, even in the darli or in a poorly lighted place, due to the spacing of the ratchet teeth or notches a predetermined number of dcgrees apart, so that it is simply necessary to count the number of notches that the pawl Q1 engages during a bending operation. It will thus be noted that the degree Vof bending may be readily determined by merely counting the number of notches engaged bythe control pawl 21, since the teeth of the ratchet are all spaced predetermined degrees apart. lith this arrangement, it is, therefore, unnecessary to read any scale figures or the like which are usually placed on the forming block to facilitate determining the angle of bend of a pipe or tube.

The operation is as follows:

Vhen the machine is to be used for the purpose of bending a pipe or tube or other art-icle, the king-pin 34 is pulled out and the forming slide is removed. The clip arms 9 are swung into open position, as illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 3, and the straight pipe or tube 14 is seated in the groove 4 of the forming block with a portion of the pipe or tube projecting over the notch or recess provided in the forming block. rl'he clip arms 9 are then swung inwardly towards each other and engaged over the tube 14, with the Wings or fingers 15 of the clip arms passing each other until the notches 1G of said fingers pass each other, allowing the cont-rol spring 11 to snap the heads of the clips together, thereby locking the same around the pipe or tube 14 with the curved edges of said clip members contacting the tube more than half way around the same, thereby affording an arrangement .for reducing the tendency of any crushing or deforming of the tube during a bending operation as the clips exert side pressure against the pipe or tube. The forming slide arm or block 30 is now seated on the tube 14, as illustrated in Figure 1, and the king-pin is inserted through the legs 32 and 38 of the forming slide to pivotally hold the same supported in position in coacting relation with the pawl block and with the forming block of the device. The length of the forming slide arm or block 30 is in direct proportion to the radius of the forming block so that, during a bending operation, the forming slide acts to bend the pipe or tube 14 without causing stretching of the same. The long bearing surface which the block 30 has with the pipe or tube also serves as a means to cause ironing out of any wrinkles that might be in a pipe or tube before a bending operation actually takes place. Vitith the pipe or tube engaged in position as described, the

pawl block. The reduction levers 25 are now engaged on the two pivot pins 24 and 38 so that the outer ends of the reduction levers 25 project away from cach other.

To bend a pipe or tube 14, the two reduction levers are forced together, and, since the control pawl 21 has the inner end thereof engaged in one of the notches or against one of the teeth of the ratchet, Vthe pawl bloclr` is held against movement with respect to ther forming block, so that, when the levers are forced together, the forming slide is swung about the king-pin 34 as an axis from the full line position in Figure 1 toward the dotted line position approaching the pawl block and causing the engaged pipe or tube to be bent evenly through a predetermined number 0f degrees. After a bending operation, the pawl block is adapted to be moved away from the forming slide in its then position, permitting the spring-controlled pawl to slide into another position of engagement with the ratchet, after which the reduction levers are again pressed together, causing the partially bent pipe or tube to be still further bent through a predetermined number of degrees, depending upon the position of the pawl with respect to the ratchet. rIhe bending operation may thus be repeated until the pipe has been smoothly bent through the required number of degrees.

In case it is desired to bend a plurality of different pipes or tubes through the same Y degree angle, the rim of the forming block has removably engaged thereon a T-slotted stop member or block 42 which is equipped with a thumb screw 43 whereby the stop block may be secured in a predetermined position of adjustment on the rim of the forming block, as illustrated in Figure 4, to limit the swing of the pawl block and thereby determine the degree of bend of the various pipes bent by the bending machine.

After a pipe bending operation, the reduction levers are removed from engagement with the pins 24 and 38, and the king-pin 34 is pulled out, thereby permitting the forming slide to be removed from engagement with the bent pipe or tube. Pressure with the thumb and foreinger against the wings or fingers 15 of the clip arms causes the clip arms to be resiliently moved or swung apart against the action of the control spring 11 so that the locking engagement of the head ends of the clip arms is broken, thereby permitting the clip arms to be swung outwardly at any point on a plpe 01y tube, OHG end 0f W lng vise or support 41as illustrated inFigure away from one another to release the bent pipe or tube.

The pawl block 19, carrying the pawl 21,'`

is conveniently moved by the reduction levers engaged therewith after every bending operation of a pipe or tube through a distance of one or two notches of the ratchet. The machine, when using the pivotally connected reduction levers 25 as the operating medium for causing bending of pipes or tubes, is adapted to be used in close quarters. During a bending operation, the bending pressures are exerted on the hing-pin 34 and the bushing 17 from opposite directions, thereby equalizing the strains upon the forming block and the forming side. f Y

Vhen a quick bending operation is to be performed and there is plenty of space, the

, machine is engaged on the pipe or tube to be bent, and, instead of using the pivotally connected reduction levers, the long handles 29 and 39 are engaged in the threaded vnotches provided in the pawl block head 19 and in the end of the forming slide block or arm 30, permitting the pawl block to be engaged in any desired position withl respect' -to y the ratchet, depending uponthe degree of bend to be produced in the pipe or tube, and the long handles are operated, causing the handle 39 to move toward the handle 29, thereby caus-g ing the forming slide to move over the pipe and gradually and smoothly bend the ,same throughthe desired degree angle for which the pawl block has been set on the ratchet. A quick bending operation of` ay pipe or jtube isthus laccomplishedin one sweep withthe use of the long handles.

Byproviding the machine with the removable forming slide and the king-pin arrangement, ,the machine may be readily vengaged which is alreadyfixed orsecured in position, and a bending operation performed without disturbing the iiXed end of kthe pipe or tube.

I By engaging the rib or flange l0 in a clamp- 3', the machine may be used as a stationary machine for the purpose of bending pipes, tubes or otherarticles. j ,It 'will, of, course, be understood that various details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and it is, therefore, not purposed to limit the patent lgranted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of the appended claims. I

y Iclaim as my invention: .y v

1.y An article bending machine comprising y a grooved forming block, spring-controlled holding clips pivotallymounted on the forming block for engaging and holding an article to be bent, ak pair of membersv pivotally mounted on the forming block with one of said members formed to engage'an article to be bent, andmeans connected with said members for holding one of said membersagainst relative movementwith respectjto the forming block when the member engaging the article is advanced around the forming block to smooth out and bend the article.

2. Anarticle bending machine comprising a grooved former, means mounted thereon for removably 'engaging an article to hold arforming block, means mounted thereon for engaging and holdinganl'article to be bent, a pair of separate members pivotally mounted on the forming block with the article to be bent projecting therebetween, and means Y for moving said members toward one another to cause one ofl said members to engage the article and bend the same 'around'the forming block. y

4f. An article bending machinecomprising a forming' block, spring-controlled clips pivotally mounted thereon forengagng fand holding an article to be, bent, a ratchet formed on said forming block, a pawly mechanism pivotally mounted on the forming block for coaction with saidratchet, a forming slide pivotally mounted on the forming blockrfor f engaging an article to be bent,\actuating members removably connected with the A pawl mechanism and with said forming slide to cause the: formingk slide to advance over the forming block to bend anarticle the'rearound.

5. An article bending machine comprising a forming block, a pawl block and a forming slide, a king-pin pivotally connecting said blocksand slide, spring-*controlled clipspivotally mounted on the forming block vfor removably` engaging an article to hold the same in contact with'the formingblock, a ratchet formedon the ysideof the forming block, a spring-controlled pawl pivotally mounted on the pawl block for coaction with said ratchet,

and members removably connected with the lpawl block and with said formingslide to cause the forming slide to movey toward the pawl block and bend the article around the Vforming block,[with said` pawl and ratchet` f ed on the forming block with the article projecting therebetween, and means connected with said members tor intermittently ade vancing the saine around the forming block independently of one anotliei to cause one of said members to advance toward the other during al bending operation ot the article and causing the second member to advance away from the first into a new position with respect an article engaged tlieieon, a member pivotally mounted on said block, a forming slide for engaging the article'to be bent, lringpin for removably7 holding the forming slide pivotally mounted on the forming block, means for actuating said member and the forming slide to cause the forming slide to advance toward said member to bend the article around the forming block, and acting to hold said slide against relative movement with respect to the forming block after a bending operation and move said member to a new position.

8. An article bending machine comprising a ratchet forming block including springcontrolled means for removably engaging an article and holding' the saine on the ratchet forming block, a pawl member pivotally mounted on the ratchet forming bloclr and coacting therewith. a bending member pivotally mounted on the ratchet Jforming block for engagingl the article to be bent, and means connected with the pawl niemeer and with the bending member Jfor advancing the bending member toward the pawl member to bend the article around the ratchet forming block and further adapted for movingv the pawl member away from the bending` member around the ratchet forming block into position for a Jriither bending operation et the article by the bending member.

9. An article bending machine comprising a forming member, means toi' holding an article to be bent a ratchet on said member, a pawl member pivotally mounted on the torming member for coaction with said ratchet, a bendingv member, a pin for removably supporting the bcndin member pivotallv upon the forming member, and connected lever means removably connected to the pawl meinber and to the bending member for advancing the same in successive steps around the forming member.

10. An article bending machine comprising a grooved slieave, a plurality of holding clips pivotally mounted on said sheave for removably engaging an article and holding the saine associated with the grooved sheave, a spring carried by said sheave for frictionally retaining the holding clips associated with one another, a member pivotally mounted on said4 sheave, a silning-contrclled pawl carried by said member, ratchet formed on said sheave :tor coactioii with said pawl, a bending device adapted to be seated on the article to be bent, a king-pin removably projecting therethrough and through the slieave tor pivotally supporting the bending device on said sheave, and means connected with said ineinbcr and with the bending device for int-erinittently advancing said member and the bending device around the slieave independently ot one another to cause repeated bending operations to be performed on the article by the bending member as it is advanced around the sheavc by step by step engagement of said pawl with said ratchet.

11. In an article bending machine oi the class described, the combination with a forming block, or' a plurality of article engaging and holding members pivotally mounted on said forming block, said meinbers having inter-engageable parts for interlock, and a spring for rictionally holding said holding members in interloclred frictioiial engagement with respect to one another around the article to be acted upon.

12. A tube bending apparatus including in combination, an arcuate forming meinber having a tube receiving groove therein, means for holding a tube on said forming member, a swingable member having an elongated tube engaging surface pivotally supported on the axis of said forming member, the tube engaging surface of said swingable member being in its longitudinal direction substantially tangential to the groove of said forming member, and pawl `and ratchet means for relatively moving said members for tube bending.

13. A tube bending apparatus including in combination, an arcuate forming member 'l having a tube groove, a king pin in said member, means swingable about the king pin for bending a tube against said forming member, pawl carrying means pivoted to said king pin, and handle means connected to said swingable and said pawl carrying means for moving said means for intermittent bending.

14. A tube bending apparatus including in combination, an arcuate forming member having a tube groove, means swingable about the axis of said forming member for bending a tube thereagainst, pawl carrying means pivoted about the axis of said inember, and handle means connected to said swingable and said pawl carrying means for moving said means for intermittentI bending, the movement of said means away from each other serving to enable said pawl carrying y means to secure a new bite and movement ot y said members towards each other serving as a bending grip.

15. An article bending machine comprising a former, means thereon for engagingv and holding an article to be bent, a pawl block pivotally mounted on the former, a

ratchet on said former, a paWl carried by said pawl block for coaction With the ratchet,

a forming slide pivotally mounted on the former for engaging an article to be bent,

and operating means connected to said pawl block and said forming slide, said pawl and ratchet and said operating means cooperating When actuated to hold theypawl block against movement with respect to the former to cause the forming slide to move over the article and toward the pawl block to bend the article around the former.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name at Erie, Erie County, Penn- Sylva-nia.

HENRY E. SCHNEIDER. 

